Issue Overview
Carbon pollution, the largest contributor to climate change, is emitted from a wide range of sources, from our homes all the way to large coal plants. In Utah, we are deeply dependent on fossil fuels like coal: Utah still gets 76% of its electricity from coal plants, despite national trends in electricity generation which are demonstrating decreasing dependence on coal across the U.S. (from 60% down to 33% in the past two decades).
To combat climate change, a transition to renewable energy must be made. This transition should be made both on a personal level (more energy efficiency) and on an industry-wide scale (transition to renewable sources of electric power). The communities most impacted by this transition (i.e. coal communities) must also be prioritized for investment in new jobs and economic opportunities.
Effect on the environment
When these dirty fossil fuels are burned they emit carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air that traps heat near the earth’s surface. Climate change adversely impacts all parts of the environment, from wildlife and ecosystems to water and weather. Industrial facilities that burn fossil fuels also contribute to our air quality problems by polluting the air around them.
Effect on health
Climate change is worsening droughts and extreme weather events, both of which hold serious consequences for our health and safety. Other connections between climate change and human health include decreased volume and nutritional value of food, heat-related illnesses such as dehydration and heatstroke, and vector-borne diseases like malaria and Lyme disease. Vulnerable populations around the world and here in Utah are at higher risk for these climate change-related health threats.
What does HEAL do?
Our efforts to combat climate change center around Utah’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. To do this, we target changes in industry, legislative and regulatory policy, and individual choices and behaviors.
We collaborate with Utah’s utilities when possible to find areas of agreement where we can develop realistic pathways to a cleaner future. We depend on the public to pressure the utilities to supply more renewable energy and less dirty energy. Our work within the energy industry relies on independent technical energy modeling. This modeling, which we conduct directly or through independent sources and analysts, can show how generating renewable energy will benefit the utility, the state, and the ratepayer (that’s you!).
With legislators and regulators, we encourage innovative, evidence-based policies that will increase renewable energy development while transitioning away from fossil fuel generation. Our efforts with decision-makers focus on economic gains for the state, employment sector, and ratepayers that renewable energy brings, as well as the health benefits that come with mitigating climate change. We seek to ensure that communities affected in the transition (like coal communities) are consulted and plans for long-term reinvestment are prioritized.
Through community nights, tabling at local events, and online, we educate citizens about the effects of climate change and the connection between health, climate change, and energy, while also providing options for people to make individual changes. Whether it be getting more efficient household appliances or installing rooftop solar, we encourage changes that will decrease the use of dirty energy.
However, not all households can afford to make these appliance or energy generation changes. That’s why we also work at the legislature and with utilities to implement effective programs that will make renewable energy more accessible and affordable to all families.
Our campaigns
Reduce carbon emissions
- To combat climate change, we work to reduce carbon emissions by developing realistic paths to accelerating coal retirement
- Learn more about this campaign and our current strategies here
Advance renewables
- Personal transitions to renewable energy will help create permanent, positive change for our health and planet so we work to educate and empower citizens to make this transition
- Learn more about this campaign and our current strategies here
Advance large-scale renewables
- Where we get our energy will be one of the biggest deciding factors in our climate’s future, which is why we work with large-scale utilities to find economically feasible strategies to generate more renewable energy and phase out dirty energy
- Learn more about this campaign and our current strategies here
English resources:
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Climate Effects on Health
- Utah Department of Health: Climate Change and Public Health in Utah
- New York Times: Short Answers to Hard Questions About Climate Change
- Grist: We broke down what climate change will do, region by region
- Grist: Personal Choices to Reduce Your Contribution to Climate Change
- NASA’s Global Climate Change Effects
- Yale Climate Opinions Map
- Utah Climate Change Index
- Union of Concerned Scientists: The Hidden Costs of Fossil Fuels
- U.S. Global Change Research Program: The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment
- World Health Organization: Climate Change and Health
- Energy Efficiency for All: The High Cost of Energy in Rural America
- Climate Central: The High Cost of Hot
- Vox: Weather 2050: America is warming fast. See how your city’s weather will be different in just one generation.
- https://www.safety.com/safety-in-the-face-of-the-climate-crisis/